The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 65

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 65

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The Daily Republican, also a morning paper, was started in July, 1888, hy Ingalls, Shepard & Dewey. It lived six months.

The Daily Standard was started March 21, 1894, by a stock company, of which J. P. Douglas is President. It is well conducted, and has become a serious competitor with The Times ..

THE WATERTOWN WEEKLIES.

The American Eagle was the first paper published in Watertown; founded in 1809 by Henry Coffeen. Its politics were Republican [Democratic], supporting President Monroe. In 1807, however, there had been started at Martinsburg, Lewis county, by James B. Robbins, the Black River Gazette. Robbins soon gave up the paper and removed to Watertown, and it is conjectured that the material for starting the Eagle was the same as that used by Robbins at Martinsburg. It is said that Robbins once brought a bundle of paper from Utica on his back, for use in printing his newspaper. In 1812, Jairus Rich purchased the plant from Coffeen, changing the name to the American Advo- cate, and continued in it until 1817. He was the father of Capt. Henry D. Rich, well known as a local politician from 1850 to 1868, and as a soldier in the Union army. In the spring of 1817, Seth A., and Dorephus Abbey came to Watertown from Albany, and finding the Advocate for sale, bought it, and started the Jefferson and Lewis Gazette. This name was continued until 1819, when Dorephus Ahhey went to Oswego, and S. A. Abbey started the Independent Republican, continuing until 1825, when both the home and office of the proprietor were burned, and the paper suspended. Previous to this dis- aster the Watertown Freeman had been started by W. Woodward, under the backing of Perley G. Keyes. This paper survived until 1833, when, on the death of Keyes, its name was changed to the Democratic Stand- ard, with T. A. and A. L. Smith, editors and proprietors. In this office John A. Haddock hegan his apprenticeship, following the Smiths to Syracuse, where they removed in

1835. Soon after, the Standard was consolid- ated with the Watertown Eagle, that had been started in 1832 by John Calhoun, who afterwards printed the first newspaper in Chicago, and whose wife's short biography may be found on pape 152. The new paper was called the Eagle and Standard, and Alvin Hunt was the editor, it becoming the organ of Orville Hungerford. and holding undisputed sway as a Democratic newspaper for many years, its name being for a time the Jeffersonian, and uniting at last with the Democratic Union. It would be a hard task to identify any of its belongings with any newspaper now in existence-though if any such could be traced they would most likely be found in the Re-Union.

Under date of March 2, 1841, the Jeffer- sonian contained the following account of a "talking machine," then being used in Eng- land, which suggests the idea that the tele- phone was in use before its introduction in America :

RAILWAY TALKING-MACHINE.

" A late English journal, in referring to the London and Blackwell Railroad, mentions a 'talking machine' constructed with galvanic wires. by means of which conversation could be carried on between London and Blackwell, with the greatest ease and precision. By way of illustrating the efficiency of this talking machine, Mr. Stephenson said that he went to the station in London one day to inquire for one of the assistants. He was not there, but the attendant said that he could inquire if he was at the other end; he did so. In a few seconds the answer was that he was not there. But about five minutes afterwards the talking machine informed him in London that his assistant had arrived at the Blackwell terminus; upon which he instructed the attendant to say by the same agency: . Tell him to come here directly.' In ten minutes he arrived; the distance being seven miles. If the distance were 100 miles, the conversa- tion could be carried on just as readily, for the con- versation traveled at the rate of twenty miles a second."

December 5, 1851, J. W. Tamblin became the associate of Mr. Hunt. March 15, 1853, J. C. Hatch purchased Mr. Tamblin's inter- est, but re-sold the same in the following Sep- tember.

August 29, 1846, the first number of the Democratic Union was issued, Thomas Andrews and James Swindells. publishers; Lysander H. Brown, editor. Swindells was in the paper only one week. April 15, 1847, Stephen Martin became an associate pub- lisher. September 2, John A. Haddock suc- ceeded Martin. In June, 1848, Mr. Brown withdrew from the paper, J. C. Hatch taking his place, when the politics of the paper were changed from the support of Cass to that of Van Buren, for the presidency. It suhse- quently passed into the hands of Charles A. Stevens and John A. Haddock. In the great fire of May 14, 1849, the office was destroyed, but in one week the publication of the paper was

resumed, Haddock having become sole proprietor and publisher. October 15, 1851, Lysander H. Brown again became connected with the paper, and continued with Haddock till November, when he became sole publisher. January 9, 1853, Lysander H. Brown and E. R. Pollard became the pub- lishers. Mr. Brown continued in the con-

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THE PRESS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

cern till 1854, when Haddock again obtained possession and soon after transferred it to Elon Comstock, who consolidated it with the Jeffersonian, styling the combined papers the Jefferson-Union. In December, 1855, Mr. Comstock sold the Jefferson-Union office to J. W. Tamblin, who, in May, 1856, sold two- thirds of the concern to John A. Haddock and Royal Chamberlain, of St. Louis. In the fall of 1656, E. J. Clark purchased this estab- lishment, and changed the name to Jefferson County Union, associating with him Royal Chamberlain. Three years subsequently he purchased Chamberlain's interest, and was sole proprietor until January 1, 1865, when he sold the paper to R. A. Oakes.

January 20, 1862, Hall & Bragdon had founded the Weekly News, which they sold to J. W. Tamblin. January 19, 1865, Stephen Canfield purchased the interest of Tamblin in the News, and the paper was merged in the Jefferson County Union. July 1, 1865, Mr. Canfield bought the interest of Mr. Oakes. The name of the paper was changed to the Democrat; and, in August, Henry S. Munson bought the interest of Mr. Canfield, and a daily was started called the Daily Democrat, with Young & Munson editors. It was continued till February, 1866, when it, with the weekly edition, was suspended. This left the Democracy without organ. In May following, however. Anson B. Moore purchased the plant, and with H. H. Young as editor, revived the Democrat. In 1868 A. H. Hall purchased the paper and changed the name to the Re- Union, and continued the paper till 1870, when he sold to George Moss and Walter A. Boon. In 1872 they started the Morning Dis- patch (daily.), and it was continued until May 7, 1881, when the plant was sold to D. Kelley and Charles W. Clare. who run the daily one year, when Kelley retired and the daily was discontinued. The Re-Union has since that time been under the management of Mr. Clare, who has made it an entire success.

When the Abbeys came into possession of the American Advocate, there was very little party feeling Mr. Monroe had been chosen President the previous year, and there was little opposition to the Democratic, then styled Republican, party. It was therefore up-hill work for a purely party paper, and their paper stopped at the end of two years. Another, however, was soon after started by one of the firm, Seth A. Abbey, which was called the Independent Republican, probably because there were men of adverse political views. This paper, it is believed, waa the first one in Watertown which ventured to avow sentiments antagonist to the Republican organization, though there was one at Sackets Harbor, established in 1817 by George Camp, (father of Mr. P. H. Camp.and Col. W. B. Camp) which was undisguised in ita opposition to so-called Republicanism. The Republican was kept running until February, 1825, when the office was burned. The next year Theron Parsons & Co., established Thursday's Post, and continued it until January 17, 1828, when

H. L. Harvey purchased the establishment and changed the name of the paper to the Register. May 1, 1830, he took Benjamin Cory into partnership with him. Two weeks later the name of the paper was changed to the Watertown Register and General Adver- tiser. In May, 1831, Mr. Cory became sole proprietor. Up to this date the paper had been neutral in politics, but soon after became the organ of the party opposed to . President Jackson. In the meantime, in 1828, a paper was started which was called the Independent Republican and Anti-Masonic . Recorder, which lasted until the Censor was removed to Watertown from Adams, January, 1830, and was called the Watertown Censor, pub- lished by Abner Morton, and anti-Democratic in politics. It was succeeded by the Anti- Masonic Sun, published by Enoch Ely Camp. It was soon changed and published 39 weeks by Dr. R. Goodale, as the Constitution. Subsequently it passed into the hands of Mr. Morton, who called it the Jefferson Reporter, and published it from 1832 till 1834, when he removed to Monroe, Michigan, taking his press with him.

September 19, 1831, Mr. Cory dropped the words General Advertiser from the title of his paper, and it appeared as the Watertown Register till 1835, when it was changed to the North American, with John Haxton, editor. Under this cognomen the paper con- tinued until 1839, when H. S. Noble became the publisher, and restored the name of Watertown Register. Noble kept in the Register until March 12, 1842, when he sold to Hugh Hough. On the 9th of April, Hough sold to William Welch, who conduct- ed the paper until 1843, when he discontinued it. Subsequently Joel Greene purchased a half interest in the concern, and the paper was continued until 1845, when Welch sold out and went West.

In the spring of 1846, Joel Greene commenc- ed the publication of the Daily Journal, ran it a short time, then changed it to the Watertown Tri-Weekly Journal, and as such it was con- tinued till 1846, when A. W. Clark became the purchaser, aud established the Northern State Journal. Two years later, George W. Smith and H. S. Noble became the publish- ers, the firm being styled Smith & Noble. John Fayel subsequently bought into the concern, and. was joined by A. W. Clark, Smith & Noble retiring. In 1856 Clark & Fayel sold the paper to the "American party," but after a few months it came hack into their hands.

Clark & Fayel continued in the paper until 1863, when the partnership was dissolved. Indeed, Mr. Clark paid little attention to the paper after taking his seat in Congress in 1861. When Mr. Fayel retired from the paper he took a position in the Postoffice De- partment at Washington, but failing health compelled him to reliuquish the same, and he died at Saratoga, where he had gone in the hope of obtaining relief, July 12, 1864, at the age of 39, after a service of twelve years as associate editor of the Journal. The paper

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

then passed into the hands of J. Budlong and Orison L. Haddock. After one year, how- ever, Haddock sold his interest to Budlong, and Budlong sold the same to H. H. Smith, September 16, 1865, and under his manage- ment the Journal was continued most of the time as a semi-weekly until 1867, when it was sold to Solon M. Hazen, and continued by him until it was finally disposed of to the Re- former, May 15, 1868, and the journal was dis- continued. In August 28, 1850, L. Ingalls, A. H. Burdick and L. M. Stowell started the New York Reformer, independent in politics. Mr. Burdick retired from the paper, October 16, 1851, and Mr. Stowell left it March 11, 1858. From this date to August 26, 1858, Mr. Ingalls had no partner. At that time John A. Haddock bought into the concern. March 22, 1860, Beman Brockway was asso- ciated in the conduct of the Reformer. September 27, in the same year, Mr. Had- dock retired from the paper, and Isaac M. Beebee became interested in the same. He remained in the paper until October 10, 1861, when Ingalls & Brockway became the pub- lishers. December 17, 1863, Lafayette J. Bigelow became connected with the paper, and continued his interest therein until his death, which occurred January 13, 1870. On the 1st of June following, Charles R. Skin- ner came into the establishment as a partner, the firm name being Ingalls, Brockway and Skinner. December 12, 1873, Mr. Brockway purchased the interest of Mr. Ingalls, at pub- lic sale, and at private sale the interest of Mr. Skinner, August 1, 1874, since which time the organization has been owned by a stock organization. Mr. Brockway died in 1893.

Besides the foregoing, there have been . numerous newspaper ventures in Watertown. Among them may be mentioned the Herald of Salvation, a Universalist semi-monthly maga- zine, by Rev. Pitt Morse, commenced Nov. 30, 1822; first year printed by S. A. Abbey; second, by W. Woodward. It was then united with a magazine in Philadelphia.

The Phare des Lacs (Beacon of the Lakes), commenced in May, 1858, by C. Petit, editor and proprietor, was published several years in Watertown, then removed to Buffalo, and from there to Toledo, where it was discon- tinued.

The Watertown Post was originally started July 16, 1870, by Bragdon & Co. November 2, 1871, Bragdon retired and the firm name was changed to Hanford, Wood & Plumb. In 1872 Mr. Plumb retired from the paper, and was succeeded by J. H. Treadwell. In June, 1874, R. A. Oakes succeeded Tread- well, and the following September the paper was purchased by L. Ingalls, who has since sold it to Mr. Chase, the present successful editor.

In 1883 the Republican was started by Gen. Bradley Winslow, who edited and published it until 1884, when it was merged in the Wa- tertown Post.

The Annals of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, is a monthly magazine of general Catholic literature, and official organ of the

Arch Confraternity of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. It was established in 1877 by the Rev. J. F. Durin, then Superior of the Mis- sionaries of the Sacred Heart, at Watertown, the first number appearing in June, from the printing house of C. E. Holbrook, out of whose hands the typographical part of the work was never taken. Thanks to the skill- ful management of its founder, the small 24 page publication struggled on triumphantly through a host of difficulties until it definitely took its place among permanent Catholic periodicals. The Annals has since remained under the editorship of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and is now as fine a specimen of magazine-making as one would wish to see, reflecting credit alike on publisher and printer. The main object of the magazine is to promote devotion to the Mother of God, venerated under the title of "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart." It is, however, by no means restricted to devotional articles, but de- votes most of its pages to wholesome fiction, instructive essays, original poems, accounts of missionary adventures in uncivilized coun- tries, particularly in the South Sea Islands, and other items of news from the world over; also to notes on current literature.

The Watertown Advocate was established in the city of Watertown, February 7, 1884, under the title of Temperance Advocate, and changed to its present name in 1887.

The Advocate originated at a conference of leading prohibitionists, held at the office of Dr. J. D. Huntington, in the fall of 1883, when the necessity for a paper to represent the principles of the Prohibition party in Northern New York was clearly seen and ex- pressed by those present. George E. Satch- well, a graduate of the Watertown High School, and a teacher of experience, was chosen to undertake the task of securing sub- scrihers for such a paper. This he success- fully accomplished, becoming its first editor and publisher, and the paper has continued to the present under his management, having appeared regularly every week since its first issue in 1884.

The Advocate has proved a vigorous sup- porter of the principle of Prohibition, but giving its aid to all forms of true temperance effort.

The Watertown Herald came into existence on the 4th of July, 1866, and in keeping with the day on which it was born, it proclaimed independence, and has maintained it ever since. The starting of the Herald was a bold move, and so far as the history of the press of the Empire State is known, it is the only instance where four newspapers were com- bined at once. The Carthage Leader, the Clayton Free Press, the Copenhagen News and the Jefferson County Herald were all purchased and merged into the Watertown Herald. The only notice the subscribers of the various papers had of the change was the announcement in their home journal that the paper had been sold to Jere. Coughlin, and the subscribers would thereafter receive their papers on Saturday, instead of the day of

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publication. The next Saturday the Herald appeared, double the size, with the home news, and sold at the same price. Its editor and publisher began his apprenticeship in the Carthage Republican office, on the 17th of March, 1874, and worked through the various stages, from the washing of rollers in a coun- try newspaper office, to the editing of a city daily, before starting in business on his own account. There is a certain dash and fear- lessness about the paper, characteristic of its editor, which makes it a welcome visitor to thousands of homes. Geo. P. Rowell & Co's. newspaper guide accords the Herald the larg- est circulation of any paper in Northern New York.

We have not burthened the reader with "all and singular" the many "alleged " newspaper enterprises in Watertown, a few of them too short-lived to have earned scarcely a name, and some of them uncalled for by any rational or sustained demand. Through the whole list we have given, the reader will note that the old Whig and Demo- cratic animus was well maintained until 1846, when the Democrats broke into two factions, the great body of them becoming Free-soilers, and affiliating with such Whigs as had anti- slavery proclivities. These turned their sup- port towards Mr. Ingalls and his Reformer, and, after he lost his interest in that paper, towards the establishment he had founded. His impress upon the reading public of Jeffer- son county has been of longer duration, and of a more permanent character than that of any of the many bright young men who have from time to time been connected with the Water- town newspapers-clearly demonstrating that staying -qualities are better than bril- liancy, or even special facility in writing. The influence of others who have remained connected with the Watertown newspapers has been much less marked, but the next 25 years may reveal the name of some one even now in the newspaper harness, who will have achieved wealth and honor in his calling It is a laborious profession, but men who have once been newspaper writers, notwithstand- ing the unpleasant experiences they may have been called upon to endure, feel ever a desire to be back again in the ranks, as old cavalry or artillery horses will prick up their ears and begin to cavort upon hearing a bugle call.

As a striking illustration of the indifference shown by many intelligent people as regards their interest in a proper presentation of their business status in a local history, the author mentions that he forwarded to each news- paper publisher in Jefferson county a request for such a description of his paper as he would like to have appear for the information of posterity. But four of them have made any response, both of the dailies having made no sign. It may be surmised that the men now conducting newspapers in Jefferson county are hardly as ambitious as was that one who carried a bundle of paper on his back from Utica, early in the twenties, rather than miss an edition of his paper.

SACKETS HARBOR.

The first printing office in Sackets Harbor was established by George Camp, who issued the first number of the Sackets Harbor Gazette, March 18, 1817. The following year the title of Advertiser was added, and by that title continued till the close of its third vol- ume, 1820. Subsequently, Matthew Cole, Elisha Camp and others became owners, and changed its name, February 9, 1821, to Jeffer- son Republican.

The Republican was continued for a year or more, when its publication was suspended. In the spring of 1824, Truman Haskall started the Freeman's Advocate, which con- tinued to the close of 1828. These papers advocated Federal principles, and the last was strongly anti-Masonic.

Between this date and 1837, the Sackets Harbor Courier was conducted with consider- able credit by James Howe.

Edward H. Purdy began the publication of the Jefferson County Whig in September, 1837. This continued only one year, though it is pleasantly remembered by the old inhabi- tants. In October, 1838, Edmund M. Luff published the Sackets Harbor Journal, edited by D. N. Burnham for a season, after which Mr. Luff conducted the paper until the spring of 1841.

On Mr. Luff retiring from the Journal, Joel Greene became proprietor. The Journal was enlarged under his management. The spirit that had pervaded the previous papers passed away with the new element, and it did not presage success. After his second year as publisher, Joel Greene's interest passed to Calvin Greene, who, in 1843, discontinued the paper.

No paper was afterwards published in Sackets Harbor till O. H. Harris issued the first num- ber of the Sackets Harbor Observer, March 20, 1848, and under that head continued with its Whig proclivities until 1842, when Mr. Harris and John D. Huntington were then associated in the Jefferson Farmer, which was published as a neutral sheet. Mr. Harris re- stored the former title of Sackets Harbor Observer, and with his removal from the village, the newspaper enterprise ended.

ADAMS.

The first paper at Adams was started July 1, 1828, by Theron Parsons, which was called the Censor. It was removed to Watertown after 26 numbers had been issued. The Cen- sor was anti-Masonic, and probably anti- Republican (Democratic). Abner Morton was the editor. A reasonably perfect file of the Censor, from the time it was commenced at Adams, July 1, 1828, to the time it was sold to Abner Morton, in Watertown, January 5, 1830, has been presented to the Jefferson Historical Society, by Justus Eddy, of Syra- cuse, and handsomely bound for its use. The first issue of the paper under Mr. Morton's management, is "number 70, of volume 2," indicating an unusual way of numbering, as in the regular way the highest number for a weekly issue would be 52, after which the

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volume would change, and the numbers of the issues would begin at 1 again. When the Censor was removed to Watertown, the Anti-Masonic Recorder was discontinued, the Censor taking its place as the organ of the anti-Masonic party. When Abner Morton announced his connection with the Censor, in Watertown, January 5, 1830, there were two papers in the village -- the Freeman, (Republi- can), and the Register (anti Republican).

The Censor was published about 5 months (till June 8, 1830), when Enoch Ely Camp was announced as the editor. He is said to have been concerned in the paper from the beginning. He changed its name to the Anti-Masonic Sun. It was afterwards pub- lished 39 weeks by Dr. R. Goodale, com- mencing December 12, 1830, as the Constel- lation, aud subsequently it passed into the hands of Mr. Morton, who called it the Jeffer- son Reporter, and published it from Septem- ber 11, 1832, till January 21, 1834, when be removed to Michigan.

There was uo other paper at Adams until 1844, when Josephus C. Hatch, a practical printer, started the Jefferson County Demo- crat, which he continued until 1847, when the paper passed into the hands of E. J. Clark, who continued the publication of the paper 8 years, when he removed to Watertown. After the removal of Mr. Clark, the Demoerat came into the bands of Justus Eddy. Mr. Eddy changed the name of the paper to the Jeffer- son County News, and made it independent in politics. It had hitherto been Democratic, belonging to the Free-soil or Barn-burner wing of the party. This was in 1855. Mr. Eddy was the publisher of the paper about eight years. In 1863 D. A. Dwight, an Adams bookseller, was associated with Mr. Eddy. and the paper was continued by them until April, 1865, when it was sold to George C. Bragdou, who changed the name to the Adams Visitor, and was burned out a day or two before his first number was to have been printed. He immediately purchased new type and presses, issued the following week, thus skipping only one number, and con- tinued to publish the paper over three years, when he sold to Babcock & Delong, who con- ducted it till 1868. The next year S. R. Pratt purchased Mr. Babcock's interest, and on the 15th of April, 1869, the form of the paper was changed to eight pages, and the name to Northern Temperance Journal, be- coming the organ of the Good Templars. It was continued as such until October 20, 1870, when Pratt & DeLong changed the name to the Jefferson County Journal, and made it an independent sheet. In 1871 William J. Allen purchased Pratt's interest, and four months later S. W. Hatch bought DeLong's interest, the new firm being Hatch & Allen. The paper was continucd by these gentlemen until the health of Mr. Hatch gave out, when he sold his interest to Mr. Allen, who has since been its efficient and gentlemanly conductor. He is now the oldest continuous newspaper editor in Jefferson county, and publishes a model sheet.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 65

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098